The materials group, which includes precious and base metals
miners and fertilizer companies, lost 2.9 percent.

Copper prices fell to eight-week lows as rising inventories
in Asian warehouses fueled fears about weaker demand to come in
top consumer China, while spot gold fell 0.9 percent
ahead of a speech by Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen on
Friday which will be closely watched for further clues on U.S.
interest rate policy.

U.S. crude prices were down 1.1 percent to $47.59 a
barrel as data pointing to a potential build in domestic crude
stockpiles offset speculation of an output freeze by major oil
producers.
Continued...